If you just watched Netflix’s Straw or caught the latest season of BMF, there’s a good chance a familiar face sent you searching: Mike Merrill. He’s been quietly building a filmography for nearly a decade, but the specifics — his real age, his actual net worth, and the full list of shows he’s appeared in — are scattered across dozens of thin, inconsistent celebrity-bio pages.
This guide fixes that. We’ve cross-checked industry databases and entertainment reporting to give you a clear, accurate picture of Mike Merrill’s age, career, movies and TV shows, and net worth — without the recycled guesswork found on most fan-bio sites.
on-set or red carpet photo — “Mike Merrill actor known for BMF and The Black Hamptons”)
Who Is Mike Merrill?
Mike Merrill is an American actor, producer, and entrepreneur who has built a steadily rising career in television and film, largely centered around Black-led dramas and crime series. He’s best known for his roles in BMF (Starz), The Black Hamptons (BET+), and, more recently, Netflix’s Straw, produced by Tyler Perry. Unlike many actors who start in New York or Los Angeles, Merrill’s path began in Detroit theater before he relocated to Atlanta — now one of the biggest production hubs in the country — to pursue acting full-time.
Mike Merrill Age: How Old Is He?
Mike Merrill was born on June 22, 1990, in Detroit, Michigan. That makes him 36 years old as of 2026.
Mike Merrill was born June 22, 1990, making him 36 years old.
Several older biography pages list him as younger (30, 31, 32, or 33) simply because they were published in earlier years and never updated — a common issue with static “age” listings for working actors. & more blogs to see digital .
From Detroit to Atlanta: His Early Career
Merrill began pursuing acting around 2015, starting as a theater performer in his hometown of Detroit before relocating to Atlanta, Georgia — a city that has become a major production center for film and television, particularly for Black-led projects. That move positioned him well: Atlanta’s booming production industry gave him access to casting opportunities that helped launch his television career over the following years.
Mike Merrill Movies and TV Shows
BMF — Ty Washington
Merrill joined the cast of Starz’s hit crime drama BMF (Black Mafia Family) in its second season, playing Ty Washington. The series, based on the real-life story of the Flenory brothers’ rise in the Detroit and Atlanta drug trade, gave Merrill significant national visibility as part of an ensemble cast that includes Kelly Hu, La La Anthony, and Mo’Nique.
The Black Hamptons — Martin Britton
In 2022–2023, Merrill starred as Martin Britton in Carl Weber’s The Black Hamptons, a BET+ Original miniseries based on the New York Times bestseller. The show follows a feud between two powerful families in the affluent Black community of Sag Harbor, New York. The series earned a 2023 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special — a notable credit for Merrill’s growing résumé.
Straw — Detective Grimes
Merrill’s most recent major role is Detective Grimes in Straw, a Netflix film executive produced and created by Tyler Perry, starring alongside Taraji P. Henson, Teyana Taylor, and Sinbad. Landing a role in a Tyler Perry Netflix production alongside A-list talent marks a significant step up in visibility for Merrill’s career.
All American and Other Early Roles
Before his breakout crime-drama roles, Merrill appeared in the CW’s All American as Christian Mosley, and built out his résumé with credits including:
- The Bobby Brown Story (NAACP Image Award-winning miniseries)
- À La Carte
- American Soul (BET Networks)
- Finding Happy (Bounce TV)
- The Haves and the Have Nots
- A Wesley Christmas
- American Gangster Presents: Big Fifty – The Delrhonda Hood Story
- Keys to the City
Mike Merrill is known for BMF (as Ty Washington), The Black Hamptons (as Martin Britton), and Netflix’s Straw (as Detective Grimes), plus earlier roles in All American and The Bobby Brown Story.
Mike Merrill Net Worth: What He’s Actually Worth
Acting Income
Merrill’s primary income comes from his television and film roles, which have scaled up significantly since his early guest and supporting parts in the late 2010s to lead and recurring roles in major Starz, BET+, and Netflix productions.
Business Ventures
Beyond acting, Merrill has described himself as an entrepreneur, reportedly serving as CEO of business ventures under his own name and other entities referenced on his social media profiles. This diversifies his income beyond acting alone, similar to many working actors who build side businesses to support a less predictable entertainment income.
Why Estimates Vary So Widely
Search for “Mike Merrill net worth” and you’ll find wildly different numbers — some sources estimate as low as $100,000–$200,000, others suggest $500,000 to $1 million, and at least one source claims as high as $5 million. This is a textbook example of unverified celebrity net worth reporting: none of these figures come from a confirmed financial disclosure. They’re calculated estimates based on assumed acting fees and public visibility, not real data.
Mike Merrill’s net worth is unconfirmed. Public estimates range widely, from around $100,000 to as much as $5 million, based on assumed acting income rather than disclosed earnings.
Mike Merrill: Quick Facts Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mike Merrill |
| Date of Birth | June 22, 1990 |
| Age | 36 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| Occupation | Actor, producer, entrepreneur |
| Known For | BMF, The Black Hamptons, Straw |
| Career Start | ~2015, Detroit theater |
| Current Base | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Notable Award Nod | 2023 NAACP Image Award nomination (The Black Hamptons) |
| Estimated Net Worth | $100,000–$5 million (unverified, wide range) |
infographic version of the quick facts table — “Mike Merrill quick facts age net worth movies TV shows”)
Why This Matters
Search interest in “Mike Merrill age,” “Mike Merrill net worth,” and “Mike Merrill movies and TV shows” reflects a pattern common to rising actors: visibility outpaces verified information. As Merrill’s roles get bigger — from CW guest spots to a Tyler Perry Netflix film — public curiosity grows faster than reliable reporting can keep up.
This matters for a few reasons:
- Casting in high-profile projects (like a Tyler Perry Netflix film) creates a sudden spike in search demand, often outpacing what fan-bio sites have actually verified.
- Net worth estimates for working actors are almost always guesses, not disclosed figures — treating a single number as fact misleads readers.
- A clear, accurate filmography helps readers actually find and watch his work, which is often the real intent behind an “age and movies” search.
Pros and Cons of Building a Career Outside Traditional Hollywood Hubs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Atlanta’s production boom offers strong opportunities for Black-led projects | Less immediate industry visibility than LA or NYC early on |
| Lower cost of living supports building a career before breaking out | Slower initial recognition compared to coastal-market actors |
| Strong connections to major Black-led franchises (BMF, Black Hamptons) | Online biography coverage tends to be thinner and less verified |
| Diversifying into entrepreneurship provides financial stability | Public net worth figures are speculative without major franchise-level fame |
Common Mistakes People Make When Researching Rising Actors
- Treating outdated “age” pages as current. Many biography sites calculate age based on their original publish date and never update it.
- Assuming a single net worth figure is confirmed. The real answer for actors at Merrill’s career stage is almost always a wide, unverified range.
- Missing recent, higher-profile credits. Because his career is actively growing, older bio pages often don’t reflect his newest and biggest roles, like Straw.
- Confusing him with other actors named Merrill — always cross-check specific credits (BMF, The Black Hamptons) to confirm you have the right person.
Expert Recommendations
- Cross-reference filmography claims against IMDb, TMDB, and streaming platform credit pages rather than a single biography site.
- Present net worth as a range with a clear caveat, since no official figure exists for actors at this career stage.
- Prioritize recently updated sources when researching an actively working actor — casting and credits change quickly.
- Use official streaming platform pages (Prime Video, Netflix credits) to verify current, accurate role details.
Conclusion
Mike Merrill’s story is a solid example of how a steady, deliberate career path — starting in local theater, relocating to a growing production hub, and building credits role by role — can lead to major opportunities like a Tyler Perry Netflix film. To summarize: he’s 36, from Detroit, best known for BMF, The Black Hamptons, and Straw, and his net worth remains genuinely unconfirmed despite the many confident-sounding estimates online.
If this cleared up some of the conflicting information floating around, share it with someone who just spotted him in Straw or BMF and wanted the real story — and check back, since his filmography is actively growing. Which of Mike Merrill’s roles stood out to you most — Ty Washington in BMF, Martin Britton in The Black Hamptons, or Detective Grimes in Straw? Let us know in the comments.
FAQs
How old is Mike Merrill?
Mike Merrill was born June 22, 1990, making him 36 years old.
What movies and TV shows is Mike Merrill known for?
He’s best known for BMF (as Ty Washington), The Black Hamptons (as Martin Britton), and Netflix’s Straw (as Detective Grimes), alongside earlier roles in All American and The Bobby Brown Story.
What is Mike Merrill’s net worth?
His net worth isn’t officially confirmed. Public estimates range widely, from around $100,000 to as much as $5 million.
Where is Mike Merrill from?
He was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, before relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, to pursue acting full-time.
When did Mike Merrill start acting?
He began his acting career around 2015, starting in Detroit theater before moving into television and film.
Is Mike Merrill in Straw on Netflix?
Yes, he plays Detective Grimes in Straw, a Netflix film executive produced and created by Tyler Perry.
Did Mike Merrill win any awards?
He hasn’t won a major individual award, but The Black Hamptons, in which he starred, received a 2023 NAACP Image Award nomination.
In Short
- Mike Merrill was born June 22, 1990, and is 36 years old as of 2026.
- He’s best known for BMF (Ty Washington), The Black Hamptons (Martin Britton), and Netflix’s Straw (Detective Grimes).
- He began his career in Detroit theater around 2015 before relocating to Atlanta, Georgia.
- His net worth is unconfirmed, with public estimates ranging widely from $100,000 to $5 million.
- His growing filmography includes All American, The Bobby Brown Story, American Soul, and more.
